Lotus Sutra Talks
The Lotus Sūtra (Sanskrit: Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram, Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma, Chinese: 妙法蓮華經) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. It is the main scripture on which the Tiantai along with its derivative schools, the Japanese Tendai, Korean Cheontae, Vietnamese Thiên Thai and Nichiren schools of Buddhism were established. It is also influential for other East Asian Buddhist schools, such as Zen. According to the British Buddhologist Paul Williams, "For many Buddhists in East Asia since early times, the Lotus Sūtra contains the final teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha—complete and sufficient for salvation." The American Buddhologist Donald S. Lopez Jr. writes that the Lotus Sūtra "is arguably the most famous of all Buddhist texts," presenting "a radical re-vision of both the Buddhist path and of the person of the Buddha."
Two central teachings of the Lotus Sūtra have been very influential for Mahāyāna Buddhism. The first is the doctrine of the One Vehicle, which says that all Buddhist paths and practices lead to Buddhahood and so they are all actually "skillful means" of reaching Buddhahood. The second is the idea that the lifespan of the Buddha is immeasurable and that therefore, he did not really pass on into final Nirvana (he only appeared to do so as upāya), but is still active teaching the Dharma.
Title | Speaker | |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #50Serial: BZ-00940A Saturday Lecture BCR-50, Samadhi, Doubt, Platform Sutra, confusion, Lotus Sutra, Birth-and-Death,... |
Jul 16 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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The Other Four ParamitasSerial: BZ-00936A Skillful Means, Spiritual Power, Aspiration, Knowledge, Sesshin Day 1 Paramitas, Skillful Means, Bodhisattva Vow, Karma, Four Noble Truths, Doubt, Vows,... |
Sep 03 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 5th, 1994, Serial No. 00956, Side B Demons, Offering, Mahayana, Lotus Sutra, Aspects of Practice, Nirvana, Vows, Karma,... |
Nov 05 1994 |
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December 4th, 1994, Serial No. 00953, Side A uchiyama, Lotus Sutra, Samadhi, Vows, Posture, Mahayana, Instruction, Equanimity,... |
Dec 04 1994 |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-00950A Rohatsu Day 6 Heart Sutra, Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, causation, Subject-and-Object, Karma, Lotus... |
Dec 09 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Importance of ShikantazaSerial: SF-03104 Description of Tokubetsu Sesshin Ceremony, Lotus Sutra, Priest, Letting Go, Buddha's Birthday, realization, Soto... |
Mar 19 1995 Green Gulch |
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God/KarmaSerial: BZ-00977B Saturday Lecture Religion, Karma, Giving-and-Taking, Daily Life, Monastic Practice, Lotus Sutra, Big... |
Jun 03 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Enlightenment to Faith in PracticeSerial: BZ-00821A Saturday Lecture Enlightenment, Faith, Practice, Buddha Nature, Intuition, Lotus Sutra, Vows, Aspects... |
Sep 30 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 4th, 1995, Serial No. 00819, Side B Bodhisattva Ceremony, Repentance, Sangha, Lineage, Right Speech, Duality, Lotus Sutra... |
Nov 04 1995 |
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Women in Buddhism Class Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, Buddha Nature, Six Realms, Instruction, Lay, Religion, Balance... |
Nov 13 1995 Unknown |
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Meal ChantSerial: BZ-00810A Saturday Lecture Chanting, Nirvana, Perfect Wisdom, Lotus Sutra, Offering, Buddha Nature, Precepts,... |
Feb 18 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Prajna Paramita Class Emptiness, Perfect Wisdom, Heart Sutra, Ego, Faith, realization, Lotus Sutra, Nirvana... |
Feb 27 1996 Unknown |
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March 14th, 1996, Serial No. 00246 Liberation, Manjushri, Evil, Current Events, Dependent Origination, Lotus Sutra,... |
Mar 14 1996 |
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Lotus Sutra ClassSerial: SF-03223 Context of the Lotus Sutra - history of Hinayana and Mahayana texts - stylistic differences of - history of Lotus Sutra - key elements/doctrine of sutra - key elements of... Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Manjushri, Mahayana, Demons, Offering, Avalokiteshvara,... |
Apr 07 1996 Green Gulch |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #50Serial: BZ-00806B One-Day Sitting BCR-50, Birth-and-Death, Lotus Sutra, Samadhi, Separation, Doubt, Dragons, Oneness,... |
Apr 21 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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A Sense of Vision Giving a Sense of Purpose in LifeSerial: SF-03228 Sunday lecture Interdependence, Lotus Sutra, Happiness, Nirvana, Silence, Peace, true dharma,... |
May 05 1996 Green Gulch |
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Lotus Sutra Class Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Emptiness, Offering, Four Noble Truths, Birth-and-Death,... |
May 21 1996 Green Gulch |
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Lotus Sutra Class Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Evil, Manjushri, Dragons, Vows, Buddha Nature, Emptiness,... |
May 23 1996 Green Gulch |
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Lotus Sutra ClassSerial: SF-03193 Chapters 15, 16, 25, 26, 2t Lotus Sutra, Gratitude, Demons, Birth-and-Death, Religion, Manjushri, Faith, Ceremony... |
May 28 1996 Green Gulch |
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June 13th, 1996, Serial No. 00253 Heart Sutra, Attachment, Liberation, Don't Know Mind, Bodhidharma, Samadhi, Lay... |
Jun 13 1996 |
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August 1st, 1996, Serial No. 00254 Attachment, Lotus Sutra, Karma, Non-attachment, Nirvana, Samsara, Repentance, Teacher... |
Aug 01 1996 |
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August 8th, 1996, Serial No. 00255 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Mahayana, Sixth Patriarch, Samsara, Building... |
Aug 08 1996 |
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August 22nd, 1996, Serial No. 00257 Lotus Sutra, Ego, Buddha Nature, Aspects of Practice, Heart Sutra, Bodhidharma,... |
Aug 22 1996 |
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1996.09.14-serial.00050 Lotus Sutra, Obstacles, Chanting, realization |
Sep 14 1996 |
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Zen and No-BenefitSerial: BZ-00116 Lecture Suzuki Roshi, Bodhidharma, Attachment, Mindfulness, Subject-and-Object, Anger, Family... |
Sep 16 1996 Unknown Location |
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The Five SkandhasSerial: SF-03634 One-day sitting Skandas, Interview, Balance, Heart Sutra, Attachment, Manjushri, Lotus Sutra, Soto... |
Sep 21 1996 Green Gulch |
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Jewel Mirror Samadhi Class Five Ranks, Delusion, Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Observe, Forgiveness, Echo, soto,... |
Oct 07 1996 Green Gulch |
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Mumonkan: Case #46Serial: BZ-00789A 100 Foot Pole, Barriers in Practice, Saturday Lecture MM-46, Beginners, Sixth Patriarch, Lotus Sutra, Non-duality, Birth-and-Death, Buddha... |
Oct 19 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Discussing Suzuki-rôshi Lecture #12Serial: BZ-00117 Lecture Monastic Practice, Tassajara, Birth-and-Death, Beginners, Monkey Mind, Family... |
Jan 22 1997 Unknown Location |
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Recollections of Early Zen Lotus Sutra, Precepts, Priest, training, Lineage, Lay, Zendo, Rinzai, Fox, Demons... |
Feb 08 1997 1 of 3 Green Gulch Farm |
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March 13th, 1997, Serial No. 00850 Religion, Buddha's Birthday, Renunciation, Vows, Lotus Sutra, Describe,... |
Mar 13 1997 |
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Dogen's ZazengiSerial: BZ-00359B Saturday Lecture Zazengi, Concentration, Lotus Sutra, Pure Existence, Duality, Posture, Buddha... |
Mar 15 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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July 26th, 1997, Serial No. 00318, Side A Nirvana, confusion, Heart Sutra, Intimacy, Right Effort, Attachment, Lotus Sutra,... |
Jul 26 1997 |
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July 26th, 1997, Serial No. 01066 Nirvana, confusion, Heart Sutra, Intimacy, Right Effort, Attachment, Lotus Sutra,... |
Jul 26 1997 |
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Majjhima Nikaya ClassSerial: SF-03224 Middle-length Discourses Buddha Ancestors, Manjushri, Letting Go, Perfect Wisdom, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Sep 09 1997 Green Gulch |
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November 16th, 1997, Serial No. 00325, Side B Interview, Vows, Mahayana, Four Noble Truths, true dharma, Chanting, Lotus Sutra,... |
Nov 16 1997 |
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Buddhism at Millennium's Edge - Seminar 2Serial: SF-03512 Copyright 1998 by Gary Snyder - Unedited Preview Cassette Sixth Patriarch, Lotus Sutra, Religion, Priest, Mahayana, Samsara, Sangha, Offering,... |
1998 Unknown |
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The Jewel Called The SanghaSerial: SF-00063 Sunday talk Jan PP; you are blessed by the people who want to practice with you who are not necessarily the people you would choose to practice with. Interdependence, Lotus Sutra, Separation, causation, Instruction, Intimacy, training... |
Jan 11 1998 Green Gulch Farm |
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May 2nd, 1998, Serial No. 00348, Side A Evil, Manjushri, Vows, Lotus Sutra, Aspects of Practice, Heart Sutra, Practice Period... |
May 02 1998 |
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Origins of Zen Faith, Diversity, Lotus Sutra, Don't Know Mind, Daily Life, Religion, Enthusiasm... |
May 16 1998 Unknown |
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Origins of Zen Lotus Sutra, Ordination, Faith, Mahayana, Evil, Karma, Freedom, Separation, Offering... |
May 17 1998 Unknown |
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May 30th, 1998, Serial No. 04341 Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Practice Period, Lotus Sutra, Aspects of Practice... |
May 30 1998 |
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May 31st, 1998, Serial No. 01815 Suzuki Roshi, Dharma Transmission, Lotus Sutra, Continuous, Bell, Lineage, Tassajara... |
May 31 1998 Sati Center |
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Wednesday Lecture Suzuki Roshi, Four Noble Truths, Chanting, Funeral, Conversation, Precepts, Anger,... |
Jul 01 1998 Green Gulch |
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November 19th, 1998, Serial No. 00837 Chanting, Separation, Harmonizing, Lotus Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Offering,... |
Nov 19 1998 |
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Dogen's Guidelines For Studying The Way (Pt.2)Serial: BZ-00188A Saturday Lecture Dogen, Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, New Year, Beginners, resistance, Lineage,... |
Dec 12 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday Lecture Lotus Sutra, Samsara, Precepts, training, Four Noble Truths, Hate, Vows, Right Effort... |
Jan 31 1999 Green Gulch |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00834 Lotus Sutra, Dependent Origination, Buddha Nature, Aspects of Practice, Family... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00835 Lotus Sutra, Dependent Origination, Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00836 Lotus Sutra, Sixth Patriarch, Four Noble Truths, Heart Sutra, Mahayana, Buddha Nature... |
Apr 01 1999 |